ABS BUILDING APPROVALS, May 2017

Public – I2 – A1

Summary

During May 2017, the number of new dwellings approved:

rose by 1.6% in South Australia in trend terms (nationally, new dwelling approvals fell1.9%); and
roseby 20% in South Australia in seasonally adjusted terms (nationally, new dwelling approvals fell5.6%).

Further Analysis

Trend data

The total number of dwelling approvals in South Australia in May 2017was 7.7%lower than a year ago. Nationally, the number of dwelling approvals was 18%lowerthan a year ago – see Chart 1 and Table 1.

The number of private sector houses approved for construction in South Australia roseby 1.0% during Maybut was7.7%lowerthan a year ago — see Chart2.

Private ‘other’ dwelling approvals in South Australia roseby 3.0% during Maybut were10%lowerthan a year earlier.

Table 1: Trend Dwelling Approvals By State

May 17 (no.) / May 17 vs. Apr 17
(% change) / May 17 vs. May 16
(% change)
NSW / 5,350 / -2.6 / -21.0
VIC / 5,004 / -3.9 / -15.6
QLD / 3,520 / 2.2 / -16.7
SA / 992 / 1.6 / -7.7
WA / 1,476 / -3.7 / -18.6
TAS / 200 / 1.5 / 13.0
AUS / 16,878 / -1.9 / -18.1

Nationally, the number of private sector houses approved for constructionwas unchanged duringMay, while the number of private ‘other’ dwelling approvalsfell by4.1%.

The value of renovation approvals in South Australia roseby 2.2% duringMayand was 4.7%higherthan a year ago. Nationally, the value of renovation approvalsfell1.4% in Mayto be 5.4%lowerthan a year earlier—see Chart3.

DuringMay, the value of nonresidential building approvals fellby 1.9% in South Australia, to be 6.2%lowerthan a year earlier. Nationally, the value of nonresidential building approvals roseby 4.6% duringMay, to be15%higherthan a year ago—see Chart4.

Note: The ABS excludes large irregular movements in a seasonally adjusted series when calculating a trend series. This is pertinent in this brief where seasonally adjusted private sector ‘other dwellings’ has recorded large irregular movements in South Australia, and explains why there is a large difference in the movement of these series.

3 July 2017

Next release of ABS cat.no. 8731.0 is 2 August 2017